A King, and No King Part 40

What? good _Lygones_ welcome, what business brought thee hither?

_Lyg_.

Several businesses. My publick businesses will appear by this, I have a message to deliver, which if it please you so to authorize, is an emba.s.sage from the Armenian State, unto Arbaces for your liberty: the offer's there set down, please you to read it.

_Tigr_.

There is no alteration happened since I came thence?

_Lyg_.

None Sir, all is as it was.

_Tigr_.

And all our friends are well?

_Lyg_.

All very well.

_Spa_.

Though I have done nothing but what was good, I dare not see my Father, it was fault enough not to acquaint him with that good.

_Lyg_.

Madam I should have seen you.

_Spa_.

O good Sir forgive me.

_Lyg_.

Forgive you, why? I am no kin to you, am I?

_Spa_.

Should it be measur'd by my mean deserts, indeed you are not.

_Lyg_.

Thou couldest prate unhappily ere thou couldst go, would thou couldst do as well, and how does your custome hold out here?

_Spa_.

Sir?

_Lyg_.

Are you in private still, or how?

_Spa_.

What do you mean?

_Lyg_.

Do you take mony? are you come to sell sin yet? perhaps I can help you to liberal Clients: or has not the King cast you off yet? O thou vile creature, whose best commendation is, that thou art a young wh.o.r.e, I would thy Mother had liv'd to see this, or rather that I had died ere I had seen it; why didst not make me acquainted when thou wert first resolv'd to be a wh.o.r.e, I would have seen thy hot l.u.s.t satisfied more privately: I would have kept a dancer and a whole consort of musicians in my own house only to fiddle thee.

_Spa_.

Sir, I was never wh.o.r.e.

_Lyg_.

If thou couldst not say so much for thy self, thou shouldst be carted.

_Tigr_.

_Lygones_, I have read it, and I like it, you shall deliver it.

_Lyg_.

Well Sir, I will: but I have private business with you.

_Tigr_.

Speak, what is't?

_Lyg_. How has my age deserv'd so ill of you, that you can pick no strumpets i'th' land, but out of my breed?

_Tigr_.

Strumpets, good _Lygones_?

_Lyg_.

Yes, and I wish to have you know, I scorn to get a wh.o.r.e for any prince alive, and yet scorn will not help methinks: my Daughter might have been spar'd, there were enow besides.

_Tigr_.

May I not prosper but she's innocent as morning light for me, and I dare swear for all the world.

_Lyg_.

Why is she with you then? can she wait on you better than your man, has she a gift in plucking off your stockings, can she make Cawdles well or cut your cornes? Why do you keep her with you?